Perry left his presidential campaign Monday in South Carolina to return to Texas and deal with the fire, which covers 25,000 acres near Bastrop and has already destroyed nearly 500 homes.

Dramatic Photos: 2011 Possum Kingdom Fires

Perry said at a news conference that wildfires have claimed 3.5 million acres in Texas since December.

He said the Federal Emergency Management Agency likely would arrive Wednesday and that Texas would seek federal disaster relief. He also said officials were considering seeking military resources from nearby Fort Hood.